Lionsgate inks distribution deal With Disney-ABC Domestic Television

MUMBAI: Lionsgate and Disney-ABC Domestic Television have entered into an agreement where Lionsgate obtains the home entertainment distribution rights to select primetime series and library titles from ABC Studios.

The announcement was made by Lionsgate Home Entertainment general manager and executive vice president Ron Schwartz.

The first programs to be released under the new agreement — popular sitcom According to Jim: Season One, starring Jim Belushi and Courtney Thorne-Smith and one-hour series Reaper: Season One — will be available on DVD on 21 October and 4 November, respectively.

"As evidenced by our recent activity, we continue to look for key brands to expand and grow our TV on DVD business," Schwartz said. "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to add these popular ABC Studios series to our library and look forward to releasing these highly recognizable, branded properties to their loyal audiences on DVD."

The deal comes on the heels of a active period for Lionsgate in the TV On DVD category. In the past month, the company announced a first-look partnership with Comcast Entertainment Group wherein Lionsgate obtained the home entertainment distribution rights to popular series airing on E! Entertainment Television, The Style Network and G4 including the tanning salon reality series Sunset Tan along with Keeping Up with the Kardashians, Snoop Dogg’s Father Hood, and Kimora: Life In The Fab Lane.

In addition, the studio is expecting its biggest year ever in the TV on DVD category anchored by the recent releases of the third season of Weeds, the first season of the Golden Globes and Peabody award-winning AMC series Mad Men and Tyler Perry’s House of Payne: Volume 2.